Tan was driving a fishing boat at about 9:15 a.m. when the motor rapidly accelerated, throwing him and his passenger, Mary Linh Nguyen, 30, also of Wyoming, into the water, according to a news release from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office.

The boat continued running in circles, out of control. A nearby fisherman and a lifeguard from the Gull Lake Yacht Club helped rescue Nguyen, who was not injured, but they could not locate Tan, the sheriff's office said.

The Kalamazoo County Water Rescue and Recovery Team and the sheriff’s Marine Division recovered Tan's body in 24 feet of water, approximately 200 yards off shore, at about 4 p.m.

An autopsy is being scheduled in Lansing, and the investigation is continuing, the sheriff's office said.

Neither Tan nor Nguyen was wearing a personal floatation device.

Rosemary Parker covers public safety and agriculture for
MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. Email her at rparker3@email.com or
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